The article explores the peculiarities of the activities of the United Nations (UN) in Afghanistan in connection with the changing situation in the country and the priorities in the work of its Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) after the 15th of August 2021. Due to the growing humanitarian crisis, the main task of the UN in the country has become the provision of basic needs of the local population. The author endeavours to show the complexities of the UNAMA’s co-operation with both the new authorities and donor countries, which has variable success. The paper substantiates as important the decision to unite within the UNAMA all strategic goals of the UNʼs continued political presence in Afghanistan. The author emphasises that in order to reliably address all the pressing problems of the Afghan people in both the medium and long term, in addition to humanitarian assistance, it is necessary to create conditions for the development of the countryʼs economic opportunities. The prospects for the effectiveness of the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan for the period from 2023 to 2025 are critically analysed. The article also compares the UNAMAʼs achievements and failures during the period of work with the new Afghan authorities. The article identifies the hard-to-implement demands of the UN and the international community to adjust the Talibanʼs domestic policies. A comparative analysis of the positions of the permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the issue of international recognition of the new regime and development assistance is given. Conclusions are drawn that national development and global sustainable development goals are interdependent, that the international community should seek co-operation with the Taliban authorities on economic development, and that the UNSC should play a more active role in addressing the Afghan crisis.

This article was submitted 11.03.2025, approved for publication10.09.2025

© Machitidze G.G., 2026

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